Acts 10:4, commentary and pictures

At the ninth hour of the day Cornelius saw in vision an angel of God come to him and call him by name, and in fear he answered, What is it, Lord. The angel's assurance meant that God had heard his prayer, taken notice of his seeking and works, and held his liberal giving in remembrance before Him. Cornelius was a Gentile Roman centurion at Caesarea who with his house feared God, prayed always with earnest devotion, gave much alms to the people, and walked strictly in all the light he had received. His prayers and alms did not in themselves earn favor or make him acceptable, for acceptance comes only through the grace of Christ and His atoning sacrifice, and though accepted as far as he knew he still needed fuller light concerning Jesus Christ as crucified, risen Saviour. God answered by sending the angel to direct him to send to Joppa for Peter, who would tell him what he ought to do, thus uniting heavenly and human agencies and making his conversion the first of importance in the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Vision Setting and Wording

About the ninth hour of the day Cornelius saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and calling him by name. When he looked on him he was afraid and asked what it was, saying, What is it, Lord. The angel answered that his prayers and his alms had come up for a memorial before God. The Lord in this knew Cornelius by name and knew just where he lived and every act of his life, as the same holy Watcher who knew Abraham knew him also. Ministering angels pass through the churches noting faithfulness in each line of duty, and God's children on earth are thus connected with angels in heaven.

The words that his prayers and his alms are come up for a memorial before God mean that faithful prayers and freewill offerings belong together. Benevolent acts are joined closely with prayer, and prayer is to be joined with giving. Together they rise before God as offerings He notices, remembers, and regards. Believers are therefore to offer their labor and means in answer to their prayers.

The chapter belongs to God's giving of instruction through vision, and direction in visions about what to speak is repeatedly given in this way. The word of God is the rule of faith and practice by which all are to be judged. Visions in the last days are not given for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of God's people and to correct those who err from Bible truth. So God dealt with Peter by vision when He was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles, while also answering Cornelius's prayers and recognizing his acts of charity.

Cornelius Life and Standing

Cornelius was a Gentile Roman centurion stationed at Caesarea, holding a high position of trust in the Roman army, and with all his house he feared God. His opening of the gospel to the Gentiles came after the seventy weeks allotted to the Jews ended in A.D. 34, when by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of Christ's followers the nation sealed its rejection of the gospel. He prayed to God always, much and earnestly, and gave much alms to the people in generous gifts to the poor. He maintained integrity and strictly walked in all the light he had received, erecting the altar of God in his family and proving faithful in home duties as well as in official responsibilities. He sought counsel of God in all business, believed in the one God the Creator of heaven and earth, believed the prophecies and looked for the Messiah to come. Yet he did not yet have full knowledge of Jesus Christ as revealed in His earthly life, death, and resurrection, and he stood outside the Jewish church.

He was sincere, truthful, devout, energetic and faithful. He lived out true Christian principles and righteousness without a theoretical understanding of truth, living in closer accordance with Old Testament principles than the Jewish leaders. His self-sacrificing, liberal, prayerful course while walking in all the light he had was pleasing to God, more pleasing than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey when obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant. His devotion was sincere and expressed in a life consistent with his prayers, practicing righteousness despite not yet knowing the full truth. He did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation and was not conscious of having done anything worthy. Yet moved by the Spirit he cooperated according to the light he had while reaching out for more light, having faith in God according to the light he had and reaching out for more. His earnest prayers and almsgiving were signs he was doing Christian works and submitting his mind to the molding influence of God's Spirit.

Memorial Meaning and Grace

The word that his prayers and his alms had come up for a memorial means that God had heard his prayer, taken notice of his seeking, known his works, held his giving in remembrance, recognized his offerings, and commended him for liberality and devotion. It was an assurance to Cornelius and his household that God had not forgotten them. He himself did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation and was not conscious of having done anything worthy, yet moved by the Spirit he had cooperated according to the light he had while reaching out for more light.

Prayers and alms offered in love and self-denial speak in a person's behalf and keep that person's name fresh and fragrant in the heavenly sanctuary. They rise before God like fragrant incense, and so it is with poor believers whose gifts and sacrifices for His work express gratitude for deliverance from darkness and are given amid hardship.

Such prayers and alms did not earn God's favor and have no power in themselves to make a person acceptable. Christ's grace through His atoning sacrifice alone renews the heart and makes service acceptable, so his prayers and giving were not payment for heaven but the fruit of love and gratitude to God, drawn by Jesus and yielded to Christ's Spirit moving upon him though he did not yet know Jesus as revealed in His earthly life. Neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Christ Jesus, for in Him all fullness dwells and all can only be complete in Him. Though accepted as far as his knowledge went and having believed the Word promising a Messiah, he still needed an advance in faith and a new experience to receive the fulfillment of the promise and to do his work intelligently through Jesus Christ, for Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ.

Prayers come up for a memorial before God because they ascend to the throne and are mingled with the fragrance of Christ's righteousness and merits. They are presented by Christ as personal Intercessor and Advocate before the Father, so they are heard with the voice of Christ whom the Father always hears. God answers sincere prayer, and humility and charity come up before Him as a memorial to those who walk in the counsel of the Lord, maintain self-denial, search the Scriptures and follow Christ's example. To them God gives clear intellect and is with them in their councils.

Heaven and Human Agency

In answer to prayer God sent an angel who directed Cornelius to send men to Joppa to call Simon Peter, lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside, who would tell him what he ought to do. That human minister was to teach him and his household about the crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour and how they could be saved, so that Cornelius and all his house would receive fuller light and the gospel and win salvation. While he was praying the celestial messenger addressed him by name, and though afraid he knew the angel was sent by God to instruct him and asked what was wanted.

The angel did not preach the gospel to Cornelius himself and did not provide all the needed light. The angel could have given the message himself, but that is not God's way to give it directly by an angel. God's plan was instead to connect people who needed the gospel with chosen human messengers, through whom the Gentiles would receive further enlightenment and further truth through a human agent.

This shows God's design to place man in connection with his fellow men, to bring about a connection between the one who already has light and the one who seeks it. Heaven and earth are united in accomplishing the work, with heavenly agencies cooperating with human instrumentalities, angels commissioned to connect seekers with further light, and God's children on earth connected with angels in heaven. Believers are to be in a position where God can place them in connection with those who do not have the light they have, with one man communicating with and instructing another, and with Cornelius and Peter becoming acquainted in gospel missionary work. God joins believers to one another to give and receive truth, requiring them to unify, to love one another, and to deal justly, honestly and truly instead of building up self.

The Lord knows each person by name and knows just where they live and every act of life, and He knew both Cornelius and just where Peter was to be found. He told Cornelius in exact detail where to find Peter staying with Simon a tanner, and He also prepared Peter to receive the messengers. The simplicity of the transaction shows the Lord knows every person by name and where they live and the spirit they possess and every act of life, while ministering angels pass through the churches noting faithfulness in each individual line of duty. The same holy Watcher who knew Abraham knew Cornelius also, because he had received and improved all the light given him.

Angels are God's messengers on earth and guides of His servants, sent as powerful helpers of His chosen messengers, and instruction is often given to men by immortal messengers. The angel's ministry to Cornelius opened his mind to receive the gospel and also led Peter to carry the gospel message to him. This visit shows the close connection between heaven and earth and is an example of holy angels ministering to God's people. The ministration of heavenly angels resulting in the conversion of Cornelius and his company means heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose. It teaches God's regard for every human being, and means each person should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for His work in the earth.

Gospel Opening to Gentiles

The answer begun to Cornelius made his conversion with his household the first one of importance among the Gentiles, marking the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles as equals with Jewish believers without requiring circumcision. Peter had not yet preached the gospel to the Gentiles, though many Gentiles had listened with interest to the truths he taught and Greek Jews had received the labors of the apostles and embraced faith in Jesus. The middle wall of partition had been broken down by the death of Christ, yet it still existed in the minds of the apostles and excluded Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel, and God set His plan in motion so His will is done on earth as it is done in heaven by opening the gospel to them.

This divinely guided opening of the gospel to Cornelius took place after the seventy weeks allotted to the Jews ended in A.D. 34, when by the martyrdom of Stephen and persecution of the followers of Christ the nation sealed its rejection of the gospel. Then the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but was given to the world. Cornelius's obedience to the instruction he had received was met with further light, for God ordered events and sent a heavenly messenger to both Cornelius and Peter, preparing Peter to receive the messengers, so Cornelius could be brought to someone who would lead him into greater truth.

Cornelius represents Gentiles walking in all the light they have who serve God as acceptably as Jews do and are nearer the kingdom than supposed. God by His own methods brings such strangers and foreigners to belief in His Son and makes them fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. Peter undertook the duty laid upon him by divine command with reluctance at every step, defending it not on general principles but as an exception because of divine revelation, and the result was a surprise to him. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that home in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on.

God Guiding Honest Seekers

The Lord noticed every act of Cornelius, and all heaven observed the praying and almsgiving of this devout centurion. The great Shepherd treated him tenderly as one of His own sheep, appearing to him in vision to tell him what to do. The same is true today, that the Lord has His eye upon every soul seeking Him and is interested in every soul needing help. He does not overlook anyone who knows Him and acknowledges His claims, but watches over those who walk in the light as fast as they receive it with special care. He will not leave one in the darkness of error, but step by step will lead him into the full light of truth shining from Scripture.

The declaration that his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial is positive evidence that God does not leave in darkness those who follow all the light given them and live according to Old Testament instruction. He sends angels to communicate with them and places them in connection with those receiving knowledge from on high to tell them what they ought to do. He entrusts greater light and larger responsibilities to those who have made right use of the talents lent them, recognizing faithful service with increased ability for service. God gives encouragement to one who does well with the light he has and takes special notice of those who serve Him and by prayers and deeds of charity show they are walking in the light, and He does not withhold words of encouragement from them. This encourages doing one's best according to the knowledge one has.

God heard his daily prayers for light and knowledge, commended his liberality and devotion, and recognized his offerings, though Cornelius did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation and was not conscious of having done anything worthy. Moved by the Spirit he cooperated according to the light he had while reaching out for more light, having faith in God and reaching out for the fulfillment of more. God saw he would do honor to the persecuted church and answered by bringing him into connection with Peter for instruction, joining teacher to seeker. When an honest inquiring soul has all things in readiness, God sends messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances bringing the human teacher into cooperation with the seeking soul, a way He works in every age according to individual need. That conversion became only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that home in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on.

Cornelius is a pattern for many living now, including devout persons in the world living up to the best light they have who have not yet had the Sabbath truth and great light of present truth opened to them. Angels visit more than one such devout person, and God desires believers as Christ's representatives to come into connection with them to bring the next page of light. Many are all ready and will walk right into the truth when it is introduced, and can be gathered through patient loving work. Many with little light and few privileges walk in all the light they have, and when prompted by love for God to share received blessings their works rise as an acceptable offering and many will gladly receive further light and walk in it.

God keeps His eye on those in high positions like merchants and princes who obey the truth, keep integrity, and walk strictly in all the light received, and He sent His angel past the self-righteous to Cornelius, calling him by name and counting his prayers and generous gifts as remembered before God. After this recognition He gave instruction for receiving greater knowledge by becoming acquainted with the disciples of Christ. This record is for the last days to teach that the Lord will give His message to those who have walked in all the light they had, will recognize them as true and faithful by God's measurement, and will lead them to great light and knowledge of the truth. They will take the places left vacant by those who had great light but did not practice the truth and who become offended and leave, so the ranks will not be diminished. Prizing the wisdom of God above earthly advantage and obeying the Word as supreme standard, they will become conscientious light bearers constrained by love to bring truth before anxious acquaintances and to give their abilities to advance the work.

God knows those that are His and in His providence directs them to present truth as He directed Cornelius, so workers are to sow beside all waters and labor more intelligently and earnestly with the Bible as guide, never letting hopelessness control them. Miracles of genuine conversion are still to be wrought, and even the greatest men of earth, men of intellect, influence and responsible positions, are not beyond a wonder-working God. Through the Holy Spirit He will convert such souls to divine principles and make them agencies to communicate light, with special burden for their neglected class, consecrating time, money, talent and influence to add efficiency and power to the church. The sending of a special message from heaven to one seeking and praying for light shows the compassion, tender love and personal interest of God. This encourages faith that He will open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel his shadow from those he seeks to deceive and destroy.

Mission and Giving Application

Workers are to read the tenth chapter of Acts and pray over it until understanding is opened to what it means for them, for it shows the Lord working for one who feared His name, a Gentile centurion at Caesarea who with his house feared God, prayed always and gave much alms, receiving about the ninth hour an angel who told him his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial before God, meaning God had heard his prayer and held his giving in remembrance. The lesson is the way God works on human minds to lead a seeking soul to full truth by directing him to send men to Joppa to call Peter to tell him what he ought to do. Then workers are to begin earnestly to work for souls in their home field and arouse to home missions, or they will be found wanting in the day of God. They are to carry the gospel as freely to Jews as to Gentiles with no barriers, because God is no respecter of persons. God knows the prayers and deeds of seekers and regards them as a memorial, knowing where each lives as He knew where Cornelius lived, and He prepared Peter to receive the messengers, showing He can guide workers to people seeking truth and open a way for missionary work without human permission or control.

A larger work is to be done for the conversion of men like Cornelius, men of ability and influence who fear God and work righteousness and are accepted with Him, whom God by His own methods brings to belief in His Son by connecting them with human teachers like Peter to make them fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, to act a prominent part in warning the world, including God-fearing men still in the fallen churches. This includes men bearing responsibilities and stewardship in places like Brisbane whose sympathies are with God's people and whom God would connect with the church, and associations like the W.C.T.U. where light will shine forth to souls as honest as Cornelius, from whose household in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on as firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world. Determined, special, earnest, personal labor must be made for them because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come in their stewardship and worldly ties, though working for them is often a heavier cross than working for the poorer and more lowly ones. Peter undertook the duty laid upon him by divine command with reluctance at every step, defending it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, when an honest inquiring soul had all things in readiness and God set in operation a train of circumstances bringing teacher and seeker together through angel ministration.

Such neglected rich, men of wealth and official life, are held firmly by threads binding them to the world and lack moral courage to take their stand with the lowly ones, and though judged by appearance as hopeless and passed by unwarned, and though blinded and dazed by Satan so eternity is lost from reckoning, most only appear indifferent while inwardly soul-burdened, starving for spiritual food and feeling need of something they do not have. Few go to church because they receive no benefit and the teaching heard does not touch the soul, so they must be reached by direct personal appeal. If converted they will give strength and solidity to the cause, and God through the Holy Spirit will convert such souls, even the greatest men of earth, men of intellect, influence and responsible positions, who are not beyond a wonder-working God, and make them agencies to communicate light with special burden for their neglected class, consecrating time, money, talent and influence to add new efficiency and power to the church when workers sow present truth beside all waters bravely and faithfully. Miracles of genuine conversion are still to be wrought, for the Lord knows those that are His and in providence directs sincere seekers to truth as He directed Cornelius.

Today also, when men prompted by love for God impart to others what they have received, their works come up for a memorial before God, laying up treasure in heaven and putting money to the exchangers so the talent increases, and God blesses the giver and the willing gift as He blessed Cornelius, who did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation but moved by the Spirit cooperated according to light while reaching out for more light and daily praying for light and knowledge. The same belongs to many now with little light and few privileges who walk in all the light they have, whose works rise as an acceptable offering, and the church's earnest faith, willing offerings and zealous humble labor as they keep learning from and looking to Jesus are a memorial before God on which His blessing rests. The verse applies to poor believers whose gifts and sacrifices for God's work express gratitude for deliverance from darkness and praise to God, and given amid hardship and poverty rise before God like fragrant incense and a fragrant influence. Watching unto prayer means to pray and believe while watching and patiently and perseveringly working, doing all things possible in harmony with prayer in continuing self-denying, self-sacrificing work, and One who knows the situation and sees great need will respond to united prayer and alms and honor faith.

Prayer is to be joined with giving, for prayers and almsgiving rise together as a memorial before God, and believers are to offer labor and means in answer to prayers. God takes notice of faithful prayers and freewill offerings together, knowing the works of those who pray and give as He knew Cornelius, and compassion for widows and orphans expressed both in prayer and practical deeds is remembered by Him and will be rewarded. The prayers and gifts of early believers who supported the publishing work through persevering self-denying effort are a pleasing offering remembered by Him. So also prayers and alms for reaching souls in Northern Europe, and offerings and prayers made by the church in the home which the Lord blesses, are pleasing memorials, and as gospel work succeeds and spreads its larger needs call for larger offerings.

Work that is not our choice is to be accepted as God's choice and the duty that lies nearest done, whether pleasing or unpleasing, for God had reasons for directing Peter to that very place where someone needed his help and still sends men, women and youth as His representatives to those needing divine help and guidance. Believers are to be in a position where God can place them in connection with those who do not have the light they have, for the angel told Cornelius God remembered his prayers and generosity and then directed him just where Peter could be found lodging with Simon a tanner by detail working out every particular. Though the angel spoke to Cornelius, the angel did not preach the message, for God ordained the truth given to Peter to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, showing God's church must connect together to give and receive truth and pass on light to one another. This means to unify, to love one another, and to deal justly, honestly, truly, gently and righteously instead of building up self and hating others, in close connection with Him who comes into close connection with seekers and knows their case in every particular.

Cornelius's prayers and acts of charity were remembered before God though he lacked knowledge of the gospel as revealed in Christ's life, death and earthly revelation and was outside the Jewish church, yet his care for the poor and gifts testified to sincere faith. His devotion marked him as one God desired to lead into greater light and connect with gospel work, so God sent a heavenly message and directed Peter to teach him. He stands among earnest Gentile seekers praying for light from heaven who when Christ was revealed received Him with gladness. God calls for men taught by God like Cornelius now, who keep spiritual discernment and are true men, sanctified and ennobled through the truth, not merely lifelong professing believers whose ways are right in their own eyes and who build on sand, and He calls Peter to go to Caesarea to take the gospel to him.